Northstar Child Advocacy Center asks Vienna for $15,000 amid federal grant uncertainty

A representative of Northstar Child Advocacy Center told the Vienna City Council that Northstar is the largest child advocacy center in West Virginia for its five-county area and asked the city to include $15,000 in the next municipal budget to sustain services.

The speaker said Northstar served 558 children in the 2025 calendar year, with 24 of those children coming from Vienna. The center’s funding mix includes federal VOCA grants (about 32% of the budget), state grants (about 19%), and donations and local revenue (about 21%). The speaker warned that a projected VOCA federal-grant cut had been reported as 74% for October 2025, and said local support would help stabilize services if federal funding declined.

“The only children in Northstar interview are referrals from CPS, judges, prosecutors, or law enforcement,” the Northstar representative said, describing the center’s forensic-interview model. The speaker asked council members to “remain in your next budget in the amount of 15,000,” adding that any smaller amount would also be deeply appreciated.

Council members asked clarifying questions about geographic case distribution and funding percentages; the presenter noted the city’s past support and explained differences between fiscal-year and calendar-year reporting. No vote or formal commitment was taken at the meeting; the request will be considered during the city’s budget process.